Laminated tacking strip and frame



Nov. 21, 1950 v. H. HOEHN 2,531,271

LAMINATED TACKING STRIP AND FRAME Filed Oct. 17, 1946 mammaasemamamas INVENTOR.

' 05,72% ezz BY atented Nov. 21),:1950

UN I'I'EDl STATES ENT OFFICE 2,531,271 TAQKINGSTRIR AND RAM VincentH. Hoelm, South jiend, 1nd., assignor to Mshawaka Rubber' and liIVoolerrlllantifac,turing4 Company, 'Mishawaka, Indi, a corporation "i" Indiana.

Applicationpctoberl'l, H3416,r ASrariiaiblo. 7033971.

2 `Claims. (Cl. 155-180) My invention relates to a laminatedtacking strip and frame forseating structures or the like and has reference more particularly to tacking strip facilities adaptable for use with lframesn of the character employed inthe seat bottom of M. M; Cunningham Paten-t No. 2,371,954 granted March 20, 19,45.

` With such frames, or frames of a similar character, it is oftentimes desirable to fasten uphelstery material or the, like to the frame but the frame being of metal and space limitations such that ordinarytacking,A facilities cannot be employed, no satisfactory lway has been available kheretofore for fastening upholstering material to such frames.

I have found, however, thatthe difficulty may be overcome by employing athin strip of nbre board or other material capable of holding aV tack, `and securing this strip againstl `the sigh-:Hof the `frame so that when a tack is driven into theV strip it clinches against the metal frame and; thereby `insures a fastening vof the tack which will lhold it securely in place. K

The principal objects of my invention are, to provide improved facilities for securing upholstery material to a metal frame; to employ tacking facilities which do not add materially to the thickness of the frame; to avoid any appreciable effect on the flexibility of springy frames; and to insure a secure and dependable tacking of materials to the frame, these and other` objects being accomplished as pointed out more fully hereinafter and as shown in the drawing in Which:

Fig. V1 is a vertical sectional View of a seat cushion assembly employing a metal frame to which upholstery material is attached in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a fragmentary portion of the seat bottom of the Fig. 1 structure, with parts broken away to disclose details of construction, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the bottom edge of the structure of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference number 5 indicates a cushion body which is illustrated as composed of spongy rubber or the like with openings B extending upwardly from the bottom nearly to the top thereof, and 'I indicates, as a whole, a bottom or base on which the cushion body 5 is mounted.

This bottom or base 1, which is similar to that disclosed in Cunningham Patent No. 2,371,954 and may be made in accordance with Cunning- 2 ham Patent No,` 2,314,318 of March 16, 1943, comprises two layers "B fand 9 of strong, substantially non-stretchy fabric, Asuch as duck orv canvas, which are adhesively joined together and secured in tightly stretched condition on a marginal frame` comprising av flat, relatively wide metal strip Il] which i s secured flatvvise betweenfthe marginsy of thetwo fabriclayers Byand 9, prefer,- ably by double rows of stitchesi I along the inner and outer edgesof the metaistrp Ii), and eig:- tends continuously therearound, Ordnariiy a metal stripli) approximatelyrve-eighths of an inch wide and oneeight of an inch in lihickries's hasbeen found satisfactory for this purpose.

The frame Ifl` is of vsubstantially `the Vsame shapev as the periphery'of the seat or back cushion withwhich it is designed to'bev used, and usually formsr'aV continuous ring of tlriaty shape. It may be molded in the desired Shape, orlitmayy bereut vfrom vflatstoek, but it is preferred to use a lilaft steel strip shaped to the requiiredV formandhav i-ng the ends welded together to form an endless flat frame.

miei-@times it isydesirable to Secure a cushion covering orother upholstery'material to the margin-off'this lbottomor base by'tacking but usual tacking facilities could not be employed'therewith.

I have found, however, that tacking facilities which may be satisfactorily incorporated in the seat bottom or base may be provided by securing a thin strip I 2 of suitable material to one side of the metal ring or frame Il] and securing this composite ring and tacking strip between the margins of the two fabric layers 8 and 9, the tacking strip I2 being relatively thin so that tacks driven therein clinch against the metal ring or frame and of a suitable material to hold the clinched tack securely in place.

The tacking strip I2 is preferably of fiber board or similar relatively strong material and is of substantially the same shape, width, and thickness as the metal frame Il), and may be riveted to the ring Vor frame I0 as indicated at I3 or may be cemented or stapled thereto, or it may merely be assembled with the ring or frame IJ between the two layers of fabric 8 and 9 and held in position by the stitching I I on each side of combined frame I0 and strip I2.

The two sheets or layers 8 and 9 of fabric are coated on their inner faces with a suitable material to insure bonding thereof securely and permanently together, rubber compounds or compositions being preferable for the purpose. These are vulcanized thereafter to insure an insepenhance the strength of the two ply assembly. The presence of the rubber affords elasticity, and the vulcanizng results in some shrinkage which increases the tensioning of the fabric. The metal frame I and the tacking strip I2 which are incorporated marginally between the fabric layers 8 and 9 are thus secured therebetween, not only by the double rows of stitching II but also by the bonding and vulcanization together of the said layers.

With this laminated frame I0, I2 a cushion covering I4 may be applied very readily over the cushion body 5 by merely turning in the edges of the covering under the frame I0, I2, as indicated at I5, and securing these turned under edges I5 to the frame I0, I2 by tacks I6 at suitable intervals which are driven through the tacking strip I2 and clinch against the metal frame I0 as indicated at I1.

Thus, although the tacking strip I2 is quite thin and does not materially increase the thickness of the marginal frame on which the fabrics 8 and 9 are stretched, a very secure attachment of the covering I4 thereto is assured by the clinching of the inner ends of the tacks against the metal strip I0.

This base is suiciently thin and lightweight in design so that it may be combined with a cushion to form a compact, easy to handle, seat unit, which makes it highly desirable for installation in automobiles, railroad passenger cars, buses, airplanes, and elsewhere, where lightness of weight and compactness are required.

The tacking strip I2 may, of course, be made of various materials other than ber board. It may be of wood or plywood, or it may be made of any material which can be penetrated by upholster-s ing tacks. I prefer to use fiber board strips because a thin strip of this material appears tov be the most effective in retaining the tacks in place.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appende claims. v

What is claimed is:

1. In an upholstery structure, the combination of a seat base or the like comprising a fabric panel having a marginal pocket of fabric therearound and a relatively thin flat marginal frame composed of superposed laminations respectively of metal and of a tough tack penetrative material vand enclosed in said pocket and thereby holding the panel tautly outstretched, said base having another fabric secured thereto by fasteners en gaged through the latter fabric and through the fabric of the pocket and through the tack penetrati've lamination of the frame and clinched against the metal lamination of the frame.

2. In an upholstery structure, the combination of a seat base or the like comprising a fabric panel having a marginal pocket of fabric therearound and a relatively thin flat marginal frame composed of superposed laminations respectively of metal and of a tough tack penetrative material and enclosed in said pocket and thereby holding the panel tautly outstretched, said base having a cushion thereon and said cushion having a fabric covering thereon with marginal edges ofy said covering secured to the base around the margin thereof by fasteners engaged through said covering and through the fabric of the pocket and through the tack penetrative lamination of the frame and clinched against the metal lamination of the frame.

VINCENT H. HOEHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,188,407 Buch June 27, 1916 1,490,136 Smith Apr. 15J 1924 1,785,359 Oldham Dec. 16, 1930 2,367,628 Teague Jan. 16, 1945 2,371,954 Cunningham Mar. 20, 1945 

